In this episode of Sold 4 a Song, Terrance Sawchuk answers the question why do musicians, singers, actors, directors, producers, screenwriters, even stagehands,have unions… but songwriters don’t?

In this episode of Sold for a Song, Terry Sawchuk breaks down a truth that shocks many creators: songwriters are legally prohibited from forming a union in the United States. Not discouraged. Not frowned upon. Illegal.

Drawing on 30+ years in the music industry, including real-world examples from his own Billboard #1 career, Terry explains:

• How U.S. labor and antitrust law classify songwriters

• Why owning a song and controlling it are two very different things

• How compulsory licenses strip songwriters of the right to say no

• Why publishers, PROs, and Congress—not creators—set the rules

• Where live performance royalties break down (and often disappear)

• And why the future of creator power depends on direct ownership, private portals, and cutting out intermediaries

This episode is about clarity, leverage, and practical survival in a system that was never designed to favor the inventor.

• Why songwriter unions are illegal under U.S. antitrust law

• The difference between copyright ownership and price control

• What a song actually is (before publishers enter the picture)

• Advances vs. income, and why publishing deals behave like credit cards

• How administrative fees quietly eat up royalties worldwide

• The real story behind compulsory licenses

• A firsthand case study: pulling unauthorized uses of a #1 hit

• Why live concert royalties are one of the least transparent systems in music

• How Congress, the Copyright Royalty Board, and PROs shape songwriter income

• Elon Musk, platform leverage, and the future battle over music pricing

• Why artist-owned “home bases” are the most powerful path forward

• How education changes your leverage with labels and publishers

• Songwriters are independent rights holders, not employees, which blocks collective bargaining

• Once a song is released, key rights are permanently restricted

• Publishers and PROs do not equal songwriter representation

• Transparency failures aren’t accidental, they’re structural

• Ownership without control is not freedom

• The future belongs to creators who own, leverage, streamline, and sustain from their own platforms

“Owning your song and controlling your song are two very different things.”

“The inventor is the only one in the system who isn’t allowed to set the price.”

“If you don’t like the cost of music, don’t use music. Don’t over-leverage it.”

“Spotify and TikTok should be billboards, not the destination.”

• Understand your rights before releasing music

• Stop confusing advances with income

• Audit where your royalties are actually coming from

• Build a private, artist-owned home base

• Use platforms as traffic, not dependency

• Educate yourself before signing your next deal

• Join the Sold for a Song community: TerranceSawchuk.com

• Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast to help this message reach more creators

• Share this episode with a songwriter who still believes “someone else is watching out for them”

Terrance “Terry” Sawchuk is a Billboard #1, multi-platinum songwriter, producer, and industry veteran with over three decades in the trenches. Sold for a Song exists to challenge the systems that undervalue creators—and to offer real pathways back to ownership, leverage, and sustainability.

Sold 4 a Song™ Podcast Hosted by Terrance Sawchuk, Billboard #1 multi-platinum songwriter, producer, artist, mixer, and entrepreneur.

Sold 4 a Song™ is a living exploration of creative worth, ownership, and the true value of music—inside the systems that monetize it.

If this episode resonates, you can follow the work at sold4asong.com.

In this episode of Sold 4 a Song, Terrance Sawchuk sits down with legendary songwriter Mark Jordan, the creator of “Rhythm of My Heart” and a writer whose songs have been recorded by Diana Ross, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Manhattan Transfer, Bonnie Raitt, Cher, and more.

Mark shares the untold story behind writing “Rhythm of My Heart,” his lifelong relationship with dyslexia before it was understood, and how neurodiversity became a creative advantage rather than a limitation. From CBC transcription sessions and LA studio legends to publishing blind spots and royalty realities, this conversation explores how value is created—and often lost—inside the music industry.

This episode goes beyond hit songs. It’s a deep, human conversation about creative identity, confidence, ownership, and the quiet cost creators pay when their work outpaces their self-worth. It also examines music’s healing power through Mark’s work in music therapy with first responders, reminding us why music matters far beyond charts and market share.

• Dyslexia and neurodiversity can be powerful creative strengths

• Writing a hit does not guarantee understanding or ownership of value

• Publishing systems often separate creators from awareness and control

• Creative confidence is shaped early—and can be reclaimed later

• Music’s value extends far beyond commercial success

• Direct creative integrity leads to longevity

• Industry myths often hide structural inequities

• Ownership and self-worth are deeply connected

• Music has measurable healing and therapeutic impact

• True success comes from alignment, not just accolades

• Writing “Rhythm of My Heart” & the Hidden Cost of a Hit

• Dyslexia, Creativity, and Reclaiming Artistic Worth

• “Dyslexia isn’t a flaw—it’s my superpower.”

• “You can write a worldwide hit and still be disconnected from your value.”

• “Music heals people long before it pays them.”

00:00 Writing “Rhythm of My Heart” 05:48 Dyslexia, Confidence, and Creative Identity 12:30 Early Career, CBC, and Learning by Ear 20:10 LA Studios, Publishing, and Industry Blind Spots 31:40 Rod Stewart, Hits, and the Cost of Success 41:55 Music Therapy and Healing Through Song 53:20 Reclaiming Worth, Ownership, and Longevity

music industry, songwriting, Rhythm of My Heart, Mark Jordan, dyslexia, neurodiversity, creative worth, publishing, ownership, royalties, music therapy, artist sustainability, creative confidence, Sold 4 a Song

Sold 4 a Song™ Podcast Hosted by Terrance Sawchuk, Billboard #1 multi-platinum songwriter, producer, artist, mixer, and entrepreneur.

Sold 4 a Song™ is a living exploration of creative worth, ownership, and the true value of music—inside the systems that monetize it.

If this episode resonates, you can follow the work at sold4asong.com.

In this episode of 'Sold for a Song', Terry Sawchuk discusses the evolving landscape of the music industry, emphasizing the importance of artists owning their copyright and data. He reflects on the past year, highlights key guests, and addresses the impact of AI on music creation and artist-fan relationships. Looking ahead to 2026, he shares his upcoming projects aimed at empowering creatives and raising awareness about the true value of music. Takeaways Artists must own their copyright and data to thrive. Monetizing directly and leveraging art is crucial. Empowering artists is essential for creative success. AI will significantly impact the music industry. Direct relationships with fans are vital for artists. Ownership and sustainability are key for future artists. The true value of music is often undervalued. Feedback indicates a broader appeal for my upcoming book. New projects aim to highlight music's societal value. Building a community of support for artists is important. Titles Empowering Artists in the Digital Age Reflections on 2025: A Year in Review Sound bites "AI will transform the music industry." "Thank you for joining me today!" "Let's build this movement together." Chapters 00:00 Empowering Artists in the Digital Age 02:48 Reflections on 2025: A Year in Review 06:09 The Future of Music: AI and Artist Relationships 08:50 Ownership and Sustainability for Creatives 11:45 Looking Ahead: New Projects and Goals for 2026

Keywords music industry, artists, copyright, AI, sustainability, ownership, creativity, fan relationships, digital age, music therapy

Sold 4 a Song™ Podcast hosted by Terrance Sawchuk, Billboard #1 multi-platinum songwriter, producer, artist, mixer, & entrepreneur.

Sold 4 a Song™ is a living exploration of creative worth, ownership, and the true value of music — inside the systems that monetize it.

If this episode resonates, you can follow the work at sold4asong.com.